Chapter 10
Mia couldn’t deny it-there was something about Alexander Blackwell that made her chest tighten and her knees feel weak. It wasn’t just his looks, though those were enough to make anyone stare. It was the way he carried himself, the way his presence filled the room without him even trying.
That mysterious, dark aura he had… it pulled at her in ways she didn’t understand. He wasn’t just a bad boy-he was the bad boy. Effortlessly rude, but not in the way that felt intentional. It was as though he didn’t even realize how cutting his words could be, or worse, he simply didn’t care.
By the end of dinner, Mia knew she was completely and utterly screwed.
She sat across from him as they finished their wine, unable to focus on anything else. That slight smirk playing on his lips- the one that seemed to come and go so quickly-left her feeling breathless. Her eyes darted to his hands, the way he held the glass with long, confident fingers. She wanted to look away, to stop staring, but her body wasn’t listening.
When Alexander finally stood, signaling that the night was over, Mia had to shake herself out of her daze. Get a grip, Mia. This isn’t you.
The drive back felt too short, yet unbearably long at the same time.
Mia sat stiffly in the passenger seat of his sleek car, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. She stared out the window, trying not to glance at him. But she failed.
Her gaze drifted toward him, taking in the sharp angle of his jaw, the way his dark hair fell perfectly into place, and the way his shirt stretched over his broad shoulders. His hand rested casually on the steering wheel, his other hand tapping lightly against his thigh.
It was ridiculous how attractive he looked just driving. Mia swallowed hard. She shouldn’t find that hot, but here she was, stealing glances like a schoolgirl with a crush.
And then he caught her.
Alexander turned his head slightly, his piercing eyes locking onto hers. The air in the car seemed to thicken, making it hard for Mia to breathe. She quickly looked away, jerking her leg in the process and hitting it against the dashboard.
“Shit,” she hissed, clutching her knee.
Alexander let out a soft breath, almost like a sigh, but he didn’t say anything. That only made it worse.
Mia felt like an idiot. She stared out the window again, determined not to look his way for the rest of the ride.
But the silence between them was unbearable.
Her thoughts ran wild, the tension wrapping around her like a tight rope. She could feel his presence next to her-calm, composed, yet impossibly intimidating.
When they neared her street, Mia straightened in her seat.
“Um, you can stop here,” she said quickly.
Alexander didn’t say a word. He slowed the car and parked along the curb, his fingers tapping lightly against the steering wheel.
He didn’t look at her.
Mia hesitated, her heart pounding in her chest. For a moment, she just sat there, staring down at her hands like an idiot.
1/2
Chapter 10
“I guess I should go,” she said softly. She glanced at him, hoping for some kind of response, but his gaze was fixed straight ahead.
“Thanks for tonight,” she continued, her voice a little shaky. “I, uh… I loved it. Especially that round thing. The food, I mean.”
Alexander gave a slight nod, but he still didn’t look at her.
Mia bit her lip, the silence between them feeling louder with every passing second. She wanted to say something else, to break the tension, but nothing came to mind.
With a soft sigh, she reached for the door handle. “Goodnight,” she murmured as she stepped out of the car.
The door closed behind her with a quiet thud, and before she could even take a step, Alexander sped off. His tires screeched slightly as the car disappeared down the road, leaving Mia standing there in the glow of the streetlight.
She stared after him, her mouth falling open.
“Asshole,” she muttered under her breath, though there was no heat in the word.
Instead, there was a strange ache in her chest, a hollow feeling she couldn’t quite place.
Mia shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts as she started walking toward her house. The night air was cool against her skin, but it did little to calm the heat she felt bubbling under the surface.
What the hell was wrong with her?
Alexander Blackwell was everything she didn’t want in a man-arrogant, rude, and far too complicated. And yet, here she was, replaying every moment of the night in her head like some love-struck fool.
The way his eyes had lingered on her when she stepped out of the dressing room. The way his voice sent shivers down her spine, even when he was being an ass. The way his smirk made her stomach flutter, even though she knew she should hate it.
